Facebook Facebook
Twitter Twitter
Instagram Instagram
Dear Friend,

Dr. Martin Luther King, spoke of the “fierce urgency of now” – a moment when sacrifice led to opportunity for transformative change. We are in such a moment now, but as Dr. King warned, that moment will pass if it is not seized. 

The hard, intelligent, and creative struggle of activists and organizers have forced a reckoning with the legacy of racial injustice that has far too long been avoided. While progress has been made in the more than 50 years since the Civil Rights Act, it is slow, halting, and inadequate. Communities of color can no longer be asked to wait for an equitable society and calls for our nation to heal without pursuing lasting change can no longer be accepted. Justice and equity can only be achieved by facing this legacy and taking real steps to repair the harm.

We are committed to meeting this moment by taking on the cases that will dismantle systems of racial inequity and apply pressure to policymakers to make this change possible. Please consider joining us in the fight for civil rights.

Thank you to all of you who have already helped to make this work possible!


Jonathan M. Smith
Executive Director 
PROTEST DURING PANDEMIC: DC Police Kettling of Racial Justice Demonstrators on Swann Street

On June 1, 2020, more than 200 racial justice protesters were kettled and arrested by the Metropolitan Police Department. While protesting police brutality and excessive force, protesters were faced with MPD’s clearly excessive escalatory tactics in relation to the peaceful protesting. Together with the ACLU of DC and Sidley Austin LLP, we released “Protest During Pandemic,” a report documenting and identifying the questions raised by the actions of MPD that day. Read the full report here.
Judge Rules Uber is Subject to Anti-Discrimination Laws, Victory for Disability Access
Testers for the Equal Rights Center found that persons who use wheelchairs were subjected to long and discriminatory waits for an accessible Uber vehicle. In 2017 together with Relman Colfax PLLC, we filed on behalf of the ERC. Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson denied Uber’s motion to dismiss and that Uber is subject to the ADA and DC Human Rights Act. 
Victory Challenging Source of Income Discrimination Against Bozzuto
Housing voucher programs are a critical tool to expand housing opportunities and fight segregation. Discrimination against persons who use vouchers is illegal and a serious problem in the District. In an important settlement, the management company Bozzuto agreed to change practices to make it easier for housing voucher holders to secure housing in DC. The case was brought on behalf of Housing Counseling Services and an individual tenant. Co-counsel was the Neighborhood Legal Services Program and Crowell & Moring LLP.
Support the 2021 Associates Campaign. LET'S RALLY TOGETHER Making the most of this moment to dismantle injustice.
Our Associates Campaign is starting to heat up. Shout-out to Williams & Connolly LLP; Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP and Jenner & Block LLP for being at the top of the leaderboard in the Small, Medium, and Large firm categories. So far we have raised $80,334.25 towards our goal of $200,000. You can support your favorite team and the campaign here.
More News
 
Jonathan Smith, Executive Director, published “The Civil Rights Challenge Facing the Biden Administration,” in the American Bar Association’s Human Rights Magazine.

Julia Saltzman, Workers’ Rights Advocate, testified regarding the Department of Employment Services’ failures to provide unemployment benefits to DC workers.

 “Willfulness is the highest intent standard under criminal law. To do so, prosecutors need to prove Chauvin actually knew that he was going to violate someone’s rights and acted with purpose.” – Jonathan Smith in The Daily Beast

Jonathan Smith was quoted in Curbed regarding the Denver STAR program and Elijah McClain’s death.

The Office of Human Rights has long failed to meet its critical mission. Read the testimony of Mirela Missova at the Council Oversight hearing on the agency.
 
 
Workers' Rights Clinic Schedule
 
Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, we temporarily transitioned our Clinic to a telephonic legal advice service. 

To schedule an intake, contact (202) 319-1000 ext. 118. For Spanish please call (202) 319-1000 ext. 123.
 
Click here to get involved.
 
Copyright © 2021 Washington Lawyers' Committee, All rights reserved.

Want to change how you receive these emails?
You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list